Tiffany Webber

Vaccination rates in schools are no longer gathered statewide, but some districts are sharing that information. Experts say smaller, more rural schools could be at risk of more infections because of lower vaccination rates.

It’s not surprising for Montanans to have plenty of political disagreements. What’s more uncommon? Neighbors whispering about each other at grocery stores and disrupting entire public meetings with passionate tirades. Welcome to the era of COVID-19, when debates about public health, personal liberties and science have reached a fever pitch. Those disagreements are tugging at tightly-knit towns and counties, making some residents wonder how their communities will survive in more ways than one.